Friday: take me with you

photo courtesy of the Stephenator

Wild Vikings

This story, about a group of crazy Norwegians who were arrested in Cambridge Bay, is bringing us great, great, great joy.

Ahahahaha.

From their blog:

The crew onboard Berserk II wish to pick up the old Norsemen traditions opposed to todays so called “civilized” and often artificial way of living. Instead of being a part of the playstation-generation, in a 7 – 4 life with computers, electrical tinopeners and washingmachines, they seek adventures and exploration in the spirit of the ancient vikings.

According to CBC's story, there is meat and dirty socks hanging from the languishing boat's lines.

Way more exciting than Jack Layton's visit.

Walking history

The annual elders gathering has brought about 200 new, wrinkled faces to town from throughout Nunavut and Nunavik. There is so much history walking around us right now!

The visitors have been busy exchanging stories and memories, playing games, and hanging out with family at the elder's qaamak and the Cadet Hall. They also made a trip up to the new arena to play soccer.

It's overwhelming to photograph something like this, as the majority are unilingual Inuktitut speakers. Without a translator, we have to rely on the goodwill of strangers to interpret names for us. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

So many people have stressed the point to me of the wealth of knowledge that will be lost unless the youngest generation of Nunavummiut is given the chance to learn from the oldest. At one Kugluktuk school, elders arrive in September with a dozen seals, and work with the students to carve and prepare the meat and skin. The project culminates in sealskin mitts for every student.

When I was in Grade 5, the shop teacher got us to raise chickens. If I remember correctly, one egg hatched into a crow. I'm not sure what happened to them when they got too stinky for the classroom. One day the chickens were just gone. Not nearly as useful as mittens.

Arctic cotton

Blugging One

In local bug news, the mosquitoes have vaporized and I saw one common fly. I also saw a crane-fly on my friend's leg, and seriously doubted it was local. I've since discovered there is a species native to the north.

I also checked out The Handy Bug Answer Book from the library, and would like to share some interesting facts.

For instance, there are mites which live only in the ears of moths. Many live in one ear only, to prevent it from going deaf and therefore risking capture by predators.

Also, the majority of black widow bites occur on penises, when men sit down in an outhouse and let it dangle.

This would s(t)uck

Buffy at the local library

Joel: imagine my joy.

In the greenhouse

Bulletin boards

Bulletin boards are a crucial part of commerce and community life here. I’m blown away not only by the amount of services, events, and items on offer, but also how fastidious people are about removing out-of-date items. I regularly go to these boards for story ideas and contact information, and last month I bought a pair of snowshoes.

Here is a random sampling of things for sale today on bulletin boards at the post office and in Tumiit Plaza:

Bicycle
Qulliq
Vacuum
Sealskin coat
Welded aluminum boat
Exercise machine
Three-bedroom house
Skidoo (x 3)
Four-wheeler (x 2)
Jeeps (x 2)
Kamotiq
Guitar

Army of Darkness, part three

Our ad rep returned, and the Army of Darkness was here to greet him on its regular Tuesday rampage.

At first, it looked as though he had things in hand. They lined up for their papers and newsboy bags. We learned of a reconciliation between Timmy and Terry, and that the mugging money had been returned. All looked rosy.

The situation took a serious turn for the worse, however, when the army robbed the Malawia orphans.

Specifically, the orphans who would have benefitted from the bake sale taking place in the hall. The kids stole about $100 when the young girl who was manning the till turned her back. There were some hysterics.

In the end, our ad rep tracked down one of the miscreants and drove him to the RCMP station. The kid was found in front of Northmart, possibly selling weed.

About five minutes ago some of the army returned to throw rocks at our building. Is there an end in sight?

Aqsarniit

We went camping last night on the Road to Nowhere, with many pairs of long-johns. It was beautiful, cloudless, and hovered above zero. While my cheap Northmart tent is not the most wind-worthy, it was cozy and warm.

Last night was the first time I had seen the Northern Lights in a long, long time. This early in the season it was a fairly subtle display, a pale white band that undulated across the starry sky on the east.

In Inuit folklore aqsarniit are the spirits of ancestors dancing in the night sky. If you whistle, it calls them down, and if you clap your hands or click your nails, it chases them back away. Much prettier sounding than solar wind in the magnetosphere.

I woke up early and practiced yoga in the sunshine.

My day off

Stuff I did today:
Groceries - lots.
Fishing - fish sniffed my lure and swam off.
Trashy magazine - celebrity gossip.
Rehearsal - gospel concert tomorrow. Songs about god, in G and D.
Kraft Dinner with avocado, beer, and strawberries.
Photoshopped stuff.

Reporter-with-a-gun art on Friday morning

Almost

This guy almost came home with me today.

The Iqaluit pound is a sorry, sorry place. Poor conditions for both dogs and their keepers - no ventilation, a lack of quarantine facilities, and improper waste disposal. I stress that this is not the fault of the city workers, who are forced to wear breathing gear to simply do their job.

The old humane society left one lasting legacy - an adoption program with their Ottawa counterpart, courtesy of free Canadian North flights. Unfortunately, only 30 made it south so far this year. The majority of the pound's pooches don't get picked up, and just get dusted by bylaw officers.

I maintained my composure, however, and remain fancy-free and dependent-less.

Dwarf fireweed

This flower is in bloom all over town, colouring the road banks and land.

Army of darkness, Part 2

The army of darkness is absolutely out of control. It's worse than last week. Much worse.

Today the heathen newspaper delivery herd began banging on the door, phoning incessantly, and rapping on the windows at about 11 a.m. The newspapers were late, so this continued until about 2:30 p.m.

When the product finally arrived, my co-worker pre-sorted the bundles, and we worked together to get the kids loaded up and out the door as quickly as possible.

Five of the dozen didn't return with unsold papers or our half of the money. Those that didn't steal from us hung around the office, asking to use the phone, and then slamming the door and laughing when I explained it was a place of business.

At least no one got beat up, to our knowledge, and no one called the RCMP.

I really don't know where our system went so astray. It's like we've become a sport. It is so out of control that Yk said we might have to just lock the doors and put up a sign next week, and not do deliveries at all.

In other child-related news, HBF, who had previously volunteered to aid us in this mess, got a job at a daycare instead.

UPDATE: Word has come from the publisher on high that we are henceforth relieved of distribution duties until our ad rep returns. The office workers of Iqaluit will have to buy the paper in a store next week. The army of darkness has won.

People doing things on Monday

Good day

The sun was out today, which it hasn’t been recently, and it changes everything. People pass about in their T-shirts, clotting around doorframes and porches, and kids run around with mosquito swatters and dirty knees. Everyone seems happy.

Tonight there was a small sunset and even a moon. The water was still and the boats in the harbour made quiet light shows where they moored. Teenagers lounged on the picnic table in front of Nakasuk and buzzed up the streets on bikes with dogs in tow.

We went to a barbecue, and lots of folks spoke French. Someone told me they thought I’d be a lifer up here. I ate, drank wine. I like it here. And for a deadline day, it wasn't half bad.

Congratulations Stephanie!

First IRAFS member to catch a fish, Aug. 1, 2007!

Vacuum on fire

My co-worker decided to vacuum and I left to get coffee. It didn't work and now everything smells like dirty fire. Actually, it is also smoking. We're leaving it in the middle of the floor to see what happens.